Chandigarh skies turned into a canvas of history today as six MiG-21 Bison jets roared into the air at noon, led by Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh (call sign Badal 3 ). On landing, a water cannon salute marked the final bow of the iconic fighter, closing a six-decade-long chapter in the Indian Air Force.

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 – the battle-tested jet that flew in four wars with Pakistan and trained generations of IAF pilots – made its last operational sortie, dipping its wings in a gesture both sombre and celebratory.

Flying in formation alongside the Air Chief was Squadron Leader Priya Sharma, India’s seventh woman fighter pilot, who took off from Rajasthan’s Bikaner to join the historic farewell. “This aircraft deserved more than one goodbye,” she said.

Defence Minister Rajnath S

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